Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LOTTERY STYLE GAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing an electronic
lottery style game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scratch-and-win style cards and pull-tab style cards have been used
extensively in lottery
type games in which the purchaser acquires a chance to win a prize, be it
monetary or
otherwise. The basic premise of such cards is that within any fixed number of
cards,
there are a certain specified number of winners. In this manner, a purchaser
of the cards
is guaranteed a certain probability of selecting a winning card. The gaming
company can
control both the probability of winning and the nature of rewards offered for
a winning
card. The purchaser randomly selects one or more cards that have the outcome
physically concealed in some manner. When selecting the cards, the purchaser
has no
knowledge which are winning cards, only that there is a certain probability of
obtaining a
winning card.
With scratch-and-win type cards, the purchaser is generally required to
physically remove
a coating beneath which are symbols or language indicating whether the card is
a winning
card or not. With pull-tab cards, the purchaser is generally required to
physically break
some sort of paper or card barrier, beneath which are symbols or language
indicating
whether the card is a winning card or not.
Such cards have been produced in a variety of shapes and forms in the attempt
to make
them more entertaining for the purchaser. One commonly employed strategy
involves a
requirement that the purchaser reveal portions of the card in a selective or
sequential
manner, thereby extending the playing process. However, despite such attempts,
the
purchaser is only provided a few brief moments of excitement. Other problems
with the
use of physical cards include the limited ability to monitor, track and
control the sale and
use of the cards, physical wastage created by discarded cards and a limited
ability to
present purchasers with an interactive and stimulating playing experience.
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The advent of computerized gaming presented the opportunity for gaming
companies to
create virtual electronic pull-tab cards and scratch-and-win cards. As with
their physical
counterparts, the virtual cards have a fixed probability of winning that can
be
manipulated by the vendor. Cards are dealt to the purchaser from a virtual
deck. Using
computer graphics, virtual cards have been created that display the outcome in
more
visually stimulating and interesting ways. The electronic cards also provide a
greater
ability to monitor and control sales and usage, and eliminate the problem of
physical
wastage. However, as with the physical cards, no matter how one configures the
cards,
the purchaser is only presented with a brief and limited period of excitement
and
entertainment.
There have been attempts to link arcade style games with virtual lottery cards
to try and
present a purchaser with a more entertaining experience. In particular,
lottery type games
have been developed whereby the purchaser acquires a gaming unit which then
allows
them to play an arcade style game, the outcome of which is dependent on
whether the
gaming unit is a winning unit or not. The purchaser plays the arcade style
game, at the
end of which the outcome of success in the lottery game is revealed. However,
the
arcade style games in such a system have limited entertainment value and
provide the
user with limited stimulation and interaction. The purchaser's skill at
playing the game is
largely irrelevant because the outcome is determined not by the player's
performance but
rather by whether the lottery gaming unit purchased is a winning unit or not.
Further, the
lottery or gaming component is separate from the arcade game and the purchaser
can find
out if they have won prior to commencing the game, or alternatively, the
purchaser must
wait to the end of the game to find out if they have been successful in the
lottery game.
What is needed is an electronic lottery style game that presents the purchaser
with an
entertaining and challenging arcade style game, the outcome of which is
determined by
the purchaser's physical or mental skill, which also simultaneously
incorporates and
integrates the lottery game.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for playing an electronic
lottery style
game.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises an
apparatus for
playing an electronic lottery style game comprising:
(a) at least one gaming token that may be acquired by a player at a fixed
price
per token, each such token providing a predetermined probability of
winning a monetary prize, and a predetermined probability of winning a
non-monetary prize, and each such token containing data indicating
whether the token has been assigned a monetary prize or a non-monetary
prize, such data being unrecognizable to the player such that the player
does not know whether they have acquired a winning gaming token prior
to playing an arcade style game; and
(b) an arcade style game involving the application of physical or mental
skill,
the arcade game adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the
lottery style game by incorporating a non-monetary prize into the play of
the arcade style game;
(c) a processor for receiving and analyzing the data contained in the gaming
token and the processor simultaneously generating the arcade style game;
(d) input means for the player to play the arcade style game; and
(e) display means for displaying the arcade style game and the lottery style
game;
wherein the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery style game
and
the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independent of each other.
In one embodiment, the display, processor and input means comprises a
computing
device, which may be a wireless handheld computing device. In another
embodiment, a
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plurality of display means and input means are networked to a common
processor. In one
embodiment, the processor is connected to the Internet, a wide area network,
or a local
area network. In a further embodiment, non-monetary prizes are in the form of
bonuses
that enhance the player's performance in the arcade style game. The gaming
tokens may
comprise electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab
lottery cards.
In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus for playing an electronic
lottery style
game comprises:
(a) at least one electronic scratch-and-win lottery card or electronic pull-
tab
lottery card which may be acquired by a player at a fixed price per card,
each such card providing a predetermined probability of winning a
monetary prize, and a predetermined probability of winning a non-
monetary prize and each such card containing data indicating whether the
card has been assigned a monetary prize or a non-monetary prize, such
data being unrecognizable to the player such that the player does not know
whether they have acquired a winning card prior to playing an arcade style
game; and
(b) an arcade style game involving the application of physical or mental
skill,
the arcade style game adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play
the lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into the
play of the arcade style game;
(c) a processor for receiving and analyzing the data contained in the card and
the processor simultaneously generating the arcade style game;
(d) input means for the player to play the arcade style game; and
(e) display means for displaying the arcade style game and the lottery style
game;
wherein the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery style game
and
the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independent of each other.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodiment with
reference
to the accompanying simplified, diagrammatic, not to scale drawings. In the
drawings:
Figure 1 is a screen shot of one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a screen shot of one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a screen shot of one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the basic steps of one embodiment the
present
invention.
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the basic components of one embodiment of the
present
invention.
Figure 6 is a block diagram of the basic components of one embodiment of the
present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions
For the purpose of this patent application, the following words shall have the
defined
meanings set forth below:
1. An "arcade game style game" shall mean an electronic game requiring some
physical or mental skill that is similar in nature to the games played upon
personal
computing devices, or upon coin-operated entertainment machines, typically
installed in
businesses such as restaurants, bars, and video arcades. Examples of well-
known arcade
style games include video games or pinball machines.
2. A "lottery style game" shall mean a game of chance in which the goal of the
player is to win monetary prizes whereby tokens are distributed or sold, with
the winning
token or tokens being secretly predetermined.
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Description
The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing an electronic
lottery style game.
The apparatus is comprised of a processor (10) for deciphering the data
associated with
each gaming token acquired by the player and which simultaneously generates an
arcade
style game, a display means (12) for displaying the arcade game and the
outcome of the
lottery style game, and input means (14) to allow the player to interact with
the system
and to play to the arcade style game. The apparatus may be comprised of any
suitable
electronic device having processing and display means including consoles in a
gaming
hall, stand-alone electronic consoles (in locations such as hotel lobbies or
bars), or on
personal computing devices, including without limitation wireless handheld
computing
devices. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the apparatus may use locally or
remotely,
networked processing and display systems, and can be practiced utilizing a
connection to
the Internet with a computing device. The use of the apparatus will be
described in the
context of a console in a gaming hall, however it should be understood that
the following
description would have application to the use of the gaming apparatus in the
other
environments described above.
The player first sets up an account. This can be achieved by requiring the
player to a
physically visit a cashier, or alternatively the player can establish an
account
electronically through any type of appropriate secure interactive information
input
process as is commonly utilized in electronic commerce. Data about the player
may also
be collected at this point and stored by the processor. The data can used
later to generate
user statistics and marketing information. Upon establishing an account, the
player is
assigned a player number and is assigned a password. The player then attends
at a
console comprising a display means (12) and an input means (14). The player
enters the
assigned player number and password. The display means (12) can be any
suitable form
of electronic display such as computer monitors. The console may have its own
processor (10), or alternatively it may be connected to a server (16) that is
connected to a
central processor (10) as shown in Figure 6. The input means (14) can be in
any suitable
form commonly used in the art such as a keys or an interactive touch screen.
The player
is then prompted to initiate game play. Upon selecting the game play option;
the display
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presents the player with three further selection choices. These can be
presented to the
player as icons on the display as shown in Figure 1.
One option is to 'exit', thereby ending game play and exiting out of the game
play mode.
After exiting, the player can cash out any credit in their account, or can
leave any credit
in their account for future use.
Another selection choice is a'help' option. Selection of this option provides
the player
with a display of instructions about the arcade style game and the lottery
style game. The
player is free to exit out of the help display option at any time by making
the appropriate
selection. Upon exiting from the help display, the player will be returned to
the display
providing the original three selection options.
The final selection choice is the 'play' option to play the arcade style game.
Upon
making this selection, the player is offered the opportunity to purchase
access to an
arcade style game and the purchaser is also offered the opportunity to
purchase at least
one gaming token for the lottery style game for a fixed amount. As shown in
Figure 1, a
display allows the player to track purchases by showing the balance of credit
in their
electronic account. A fixed number of the gaming tokens that are available for
purchase
by the player are pre-assigned monetary prizes or non-monetary prizes. Thus,
the player
has a predetermined probability of succeeding in the lottery style game. The
number of
gaming tokens that the player may purchase at any time can be controlled by
the vendor.
The vendor will also predetermine how many gaming tokens are winners, thereby
fixing
the probability of winning. The probability of winning money can be
communicated to
the player if desired. Each gaming token contains data indicating whether it
has been
assigned a monetary prize, a non-monetary prize, both, or neither. The player
is unable
to decipher such information and is not able to find out if they have acquired
winning or
losing tokens until they engage in game play. It should be understood that the
gaming
tokens described herein may comprise electronic units containing the requisite
data that
may be deciphered by a processor, not necessarily physical tokens. To prevent
fraud and
for other security reasons, the data contained in the gaming tokens may be
encrypted,
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coded, password protected or secured using such other suitable means as would
be used
by one skilled in the art.
The gaming tokens may be displayed to the player in any suitable and visually
stimulating form commonly used in the electronic lottery and gaming industry.
Types of
displays will include electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards, and electronic
pull-tab
lottery cards. As with paper scratch-and-win lottery cards and paper pull-tab
cards, the
player is able to see the concealed electronic scratch-and-win cards and the
electronic
pull tab cards however, the player has no indication as to whether they are
they are
winning cards until the relevant portion is revealed. As will be discussed in
more detail
below, the outcome of the electronic cards is gradually revealed to the player
as they
progress with the playing of the arcade game.
As shown in Figure 4, after purchasing game tokens, the player then commences
play of
the arcade style game. Although the types of arcade style game may vary, in
each case
the player will accumulate points for completing the tasks presented in the
arcade style
game. The tasks require the application of physical or mental skill. If the
player
accumulates enough points within the fixed time period, they advance a level
whereby
they are afforded more time to play the arcade style game and are presented
with
differing tasks, or the same tasks at an increased level of difficulty. Upon
advancing a
level, the player can also be offered the opportunity to acquire additional
gaming tokens.
If the player has not accumulated enough points within a predetermined time
period then
the game will terminate. As shown in Figure 2, in one embodiment the arcade
style game
will comprise a game in which the player must arrange a linear set of three or
more
symbols of the same colour in vertical, horizontal or diagonal lines. Points
are awarded
to the player upon completion of the desired arrangements and upon the
accumulation of
a certain number of points, the player advances to the next level of play, as
shown in
Figure 3.
It can be understood that a skilled player will be able to advance to greater
levels in the
arcade style game than an unskilled player, and may experience greater playing
time if
additional game time is awarded for reaching subsequent levels. However, no
matter
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how skilled the player is, the arcade style game will be designed so that
eventually time
will run out and the arcade style game will end. At this point the player is
offered the
option of paying to continue the play of the arcade style game from the point
where the
game ended, or they can elect to start a new game from the beginning. In
either case, the
player will be offered the opportunity to purchase more gaming tokens. As
shown in
Figure 3, the display provides the player with the ability to track how much
money they
are spending, thereby allowing them to monitor the credit level in their
account.
Alternatively, at the end of the arcade style game, the player can elect to
exit the game
mode and can cash out any credit in their electronic account if they wish to.
It is also possible that the player will be able to purchase additional gaming
tokens at any
point during the playing of the arcade style game.
During the playing of the arcade style game, upon the achievement of certain
milestones,
the outcome of the lottery style game will be partially revealed to the
player. The
milestones can include; accumulating a certain number of points, completing
certain tasks
presented in the arcade style game, or completing tasks in a particular
sequence. For
example, if prior to commencing the arcade style game, the player has
purchased nine
electronic scratch-and-win cards, one possibility would be to reveal the cards
in sets of
three. As the first milestone is reached the first three cards are randomly
selected and are
virtually revealed to the player thereby allowing the player to see whether
they are
winning cards or not. The same process is repeated as second and third
milestones are
reached. The number and types of milestones can be varied to account for the
number of
gaming tokens purchased, and to account for the skill level of the player.
Further, the
manner in which the outcome of the lottery game is revealed to the player can
be adjusted
or varied to maximize excitement. It is desirable to maximize player interest
by having
the outcome of all gaming tokens revealed prior to the termination of the
arcade style
game, however a player could also bank gaming tokens for use in subsequent
arcade style
games if they have not all been revealed during the arcade style game. The
player can
also be presented with the option of revealing any left over gaming tokens at
the
conclusion of the arcade style game. In this manner, the outcome of success in
the arcade
style game will affect the playing of the lottery style game however, the
probability of
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winning in the lottery style game will not be affected by the outcome of
success in the
arcade style game. For example, a good arcade style game player may reach the
milestones faster, thereby resulting in the faster disclosure of the outcome
of the lottery
style game. However, the probability of winning in the lottery style game
remains
unchanged.
Winning game tokens will correspond with varying monetary prizes, however non-
monetary prizes will also be assigned to a certain number of gaming tokens. If
a gaming
token is a monetary winning token, the value of the prize will be displayed to
the player
and the monetary prize amount will be directly credited to the player's
electronic account.
At the end of the arcade game the player will be advised of the current
balance in their
account, and how much was won during the playing of the arcade type game. Game
tokens having non-monetary prizes will reward the player with arcade game
bonuses to
enhance the player's performance in the arcade game. Such bonuses will
include;
additional time to play the arcade game, additional lives, additional points,
or features
that make the tasks presented in the arcade game easier for the player. In
this manner, the
non-monetary prizes will affect the playing of the arcade style game, however
the
outcome of success at winning money in the lottery style game has no bearing
whatsoever on the outcome of the arcade style game. For example, a player
could
perform extremely well in the arcade style game yet win little or no money in
the lottery,
and conversely, a player could win lots of money in the lottery style game,
yet perform
very poorly in the arcade style game. More simply stated, a player could win
monetarily
at the lottery style game whilst losing at the arcade style game, and vice
versa. The
independent outcomes arise from the fact that the identity of the winning
gaming tokens
are predetermined. A purchaser that acquires games tokens and that plays the
arcade
style game has a certain probability of succeeding in the lottery style game
regardless of
how they perform in the arcade style game.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications,
adaptations and
variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing
from the
scope of the invention claimed herein. The various features and elements of
the
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described invention may be combined in a manner different from the
combinations
described or claimed herein, without departing from the scope of the
invention.
